The abrupt collapse of real estate mortgage values beginning in 2008 lead to a five-year worldwide recession. This near failure of the banking system substantially increased the public's awareness about the importance of understanding what an appraiser thinks or does. Written from the point of view of the appraiser and based on real-life experiences, this book shares insights valuable to industry experts as well as the tens of thousands of people who find themselves in court because the value of something is an issue. Most of author Hank Wise's work has been as an expert witness in civil cases wherein the critical issue to be decided is 'what is it worth?' His clients include the U.S. Department of Justice, states, cities, counties, and many national and regional law firms. He appraised the Everglades and Big Cypress, tourist attraction caves, wells, mountains, air rights, mineral rights, even when all parties agreed that there were no minerals, as well as the usual panoply of shopping centres, apartments, office buildings and other commercial real estate properties. It's Only An Opinion: An Appraiser in Court uses interesting and unusual cases to illustrate the appraisal process and the reasoning that makes an appraisal credible.